Chris Godwin suffered a significant ankle injury during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The wide receiver got hurt with less than two minutes left in the game, and his team was trailing 41-31.
Due to these factors, fans on social media blamed Todd Bowles for allowing starters to play in a game that was basically over.
Chris Godwin Injury: Fans Sound Off on Bucs’ WR’s Unfortunate Mishap
Godwin was carted off with an air cast on his leg; reportedly, it is believed to be a season-ending injury. Here’s how fans blamed the Buccaneers head coach for the wide receiver’s injury:
Can we please fire Todd Bowles now?? Zero reason for Godwin to still be playing. His injury is 100% because of coaching. https://t.co/8rNTjdXOlR
— Mike (@lIllImikelIllI) October 22, 2024
“This injury is on the coaches period. Prayers for Chris for a speedy recovery,” said one fan.
“Todd Bowles just cost Chris Godwin his season,” added another fan.
“This should be the last game that Todd Bowles is the head coach of the Buccaneers,” said another fan.
“Godwin is a free agent after this season. Todd Bowles just cost him generational money and job security. What do you even say to a man after that? Irredeemable,” said another fan of the wide receiver’s situation.
“Make smarter personnel decisions,” added another fan, directing toward Bowles.
Todd Bowles laughing while Godwin lost his season is nasty work pic.twitter.com/C4Q1yGlWNt
— Hov (@Hov11SG) October 22, 2024
Godwin signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension in 2022. He will be an unrestricted free agent next year, and the Buccaneers seem unlikely to resign him.
Tampa Bay drafted the Penn State product with the 84th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has won a Super Bowl with them and has one Pro Bowl appearance. Godwin has had four 1,000+ receiving yards season in his career so far.
Todd Bowles Speaks After Godwin’s Injury
Following the game, the Buccaneers head coach was asked about his decision to keep the starters in the game, which led to Godwin’s injury.
“It’s unfortunate he [Chris Godwin] got hurt, and we feel bad about that,” Bowles said. “But he’s a football player, and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker [Mayfield] and everyone else wanted to be in the game.”
Not only did the Buccaneers lose Godwin, but Mike Evans also suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of the game. He did catch his 100th touchdown pass of his career to start the game, but it was evident that the future Hall of Famer was playing in pain.
Following the loss to the Ravens, the Buccaneers are 4-3 on the season and will be without their two top wide receivers. Here’s the Buccaneers’ depth chart after Evans and Godwin’s injuries.
- WR1: Jalen McMillan
- WR2: Sterling Shepard
- WR3: Trey Palmer
Tampa Bay will face the Atlanta Falcons next week. They have already lost once to them this season, a 36-30 loss in overtime in Week 5.